Cabrera-Mioletti battles Dulay Saturday at the boat
By Ricardo Ibarra
Unbeaten Jr. lightweight prospect Giovanni Cabrera-Mioletti (15-0, 6 KOs) will look to continue his ascent up the divisional ladder on Saturday night at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, facing off with upset-minded Filipino Banger Recky Dulay (11-4, 8 KOs) in the main event of Brian Halquist Productions' 120th edition of the long-running 'Battle at the Boat' series.
Fighting out of Chicago, Illinois, but originally from Seattle, Cabrera-Mioletti is looking to build on what has been a significant twelve month run for the young fighter, kicked off in January of 2018 with a decision win over former USBA lightweight champion Tyrone Harris. He followed that up with five subsequent wins over well-regarded opponents, including victories over fellow undefeated fighters Ray Lampkin, Elijah Pierce, and Headley Scott. This past January, he scored arguably his most impressive victory to date, stopping former world title contender Antonio Escalante in three rounds. As the twenty-four-year-old fighter continues to face tougher opposition, he's displayed a widening array of skills in the ring, which have served him well as durable opponents look to put those skills to the test. He'll face off with a tough fighter looking to test him again this Saturday.
Dulay, who hails from Makati City, Philippines, currently trains out of Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He made his American debut in 2015 after fighting nine of his first ten fights in his native country, suffering a first-round loss to then rising contender Gervonta Davis—who would go on to claim two world titles and currently holds the WBA 130 lbs. championship. Sixteen months later Dulay rebounded from the loss with a second-round knockout win over Noel Adelmita back home in January of 2017. He returned to the U.S. that July, taking on undefeated Panamanian prospect Jaime Arboleda and scoring a surprising upset win at the Forum in Inglewood, California, knocking him out in the third round. The win led to a shot at the vacant WBO-NABO Jr. lightweight title against Darden Zenunaj, in a fight he would lose via third-round stoppage.
The twenty-five-year-old Filipino fighter has gone 1-1 in his last two fights and is hoping to get back in the win column after losing a six round unanimous decision to Edgar Ortega in his last fight this past October.
Cabrera-Mioletti and Dulay will battle over ten rounds in the 130 lbs. division. In addition to the main event, promoter Brian Halquist and matchmaker Andy Nance have lined up a five-fight undercard.
In the semi-main event, California prospect Miguel Contreras (6-0, 5 KOs), of Bakersfield, will square off with Keasen Freeman (4-5, 2 KOs) in a Jr. welterweight contest. Contreras, a decorated amateur, entered the paid ranks in 2016 and has won all but one of his professional fights inside the distance. He's currently riding a three-fight knockout streak, with his last fight being a fifth-round stoppage win over Mike Melikyan last September. Freeman, of South Carolina, is looking to break a five-fight losing run. His last fight was a first-round loss to Justin Biggs in December. The two will square off in a six rounder.
Kent, Washington's Niko McFarland (3-4-1, 1 KO) will look to continue his current unbeaten streak in a four round Jr. welterweight bout, taking on Manuel Ortega (1-6), of Seattle. McFarland, who began his pro career losing four consecutive fights, has turned things around recently, winning three in a row. In his last fight, he took a four round split decision victory over Luis DeAlba this past January. Ortega, meanwhile, only has one win in seven fights, but he's been in the ring with some note-worthy fighters, losing to Evgeny Gradovich and Randy Caballero early on in their respective careers, both of whom would go on to claim world titles. This will be the first fight for Ortega in over five years. He last fought in November of 2013, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Jeremy McCleary.
Normandy Park, Washington's Andres Garcia Abarca (1-1) will battle Charon Spain (0-12-1) in a scheduled four round bout. Garcia Abarca has proven to be an entertaining fighter over his short stint as a pro, giving a spirited effort against former amateur stand-out Chris Johnson, losing a four round majority decision; and defeating Luis DeAlba by decision at the Emerald Queen last September. Spain, meanwhile, will be looking for his first win after thirteen pro fights. The two combatants will meet in the welterweight division.
In a four round battle between winless fighters, Seattle's Luis DeAlba (0-2) will meet William Parra-Smith (0-2), of Anchorage, Alaska, in a Jr. welterweight match-up. DeAlba came close to claiming his first win this past January, when he lost a four round split decision to Niko McFarland. Parra-Smith's last loss occurred on the same card, losing via unanimous decision to Derick Bartlemay, who at the time was also without a win.
Rounding out the card will be another battle between fighters looking for their first pro win as Dylan Blakesly (0-1), of Vancouver, Washington, takes on Seattle's Carlos Hernandez (0-1) in a four round Jr. welterweight match-up.
Doors to the Emerald Queen Casino I-5 showroom open at 6 p.m. with the first bout set to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets to the event are available through the EQC box office and all Ticketmaster Outlets. For more information visit www.halquistproductions.com or the Battle at the Boat Facebook page.
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Nearly five years removed from his last fight, former Jr. lightweight world champion Steve '2 Pound' Forbes (35-14, 11 KOs) will return to the ring on April 6th at the Clackamas Armory in Clackamas, Oregon. Forbes will fight in the main event of 2Pound Sports & Entertainment's third card in the Portland area, a promotion founded by himself and partner Christina Lunzman, heading up a scheduled line-up of some of the best young fighters from in and around the state.
One of the most accomplished fighters to come out of the Pacific Northwest in recent memory, Forbes amassed a forty-nine-fight record over his twenty-two-years as a pro, facing a number of upper tier fighters along the way. He claimed the vacant IBF 130 lbs. strap in the year 2000, defeating well-regarded contender John Brown by unanimous decision. He would go on to defend once before losing the title on the scale, coming in over the limit prior to his fight against David Santos, whom he went on to defeat by twelve round split decision.
As a welterweight, Forbes was featured on the second season of the reality show 'The Contender' in 2006, where he fought his way to the show's final match, losing by decision to Grady Brewer. In 2008 Forbes landed a lucrative fight against Oscar Delahoya, losing a twelve round unanimous decision. He got a crack at the WBC 147 lbs. championship in September of that same year, suffering a twelve round unanimous decision loss to then title holder Andre Berto.
Leading up to his departure from the sport in 2014, Forbes took on several young contenders, including future world title holder Jesse Vargas in May of 2012 (L UD10). He last fought in October of 2014, dropping an eight round unanimous decision to Antonio Orozco.
He stepped into the promoter's role in 2017, forming his own company along with partner Christina Lunzman, and staging the first professional show to take place in the city of Portland in nearly twelve years. Seeing the rekindled support for the sport from his hometown played a role in his decision to come back.
"When we did our shows, that got me wanting to come back," said Forbes."It's funny, I had been thinking about it since I was in camp with Mayweather for his fight with Berto and he kept saying I should think about coming back because I still looked good. But I got injured and spent a lot of time off because of it. A couple years later we did our shows here and it got me wanting to do it again. People out here really showed their support…and I liked the idea of coming back on my own show, on my own terms, in my hometown."
Forbes spent most of his professional run fighting away from Portland, leaving the state of Oregon early in his career to pursue better opportunities. The prospect of making his comeback at home spurred on his decision.
"I’ve only fought in this area three times. I wanted to fight at home again. We've gotten a lot of support with our shows and I thought this would be a good way to help get some attention for these younger guys and support the sport in Oregon…I've been working hard and feeling great in the gym. Been sparring with a lot of young guys and a lot of my old tricks are starting to show up again. I love boxing again, for a while I didn't…I'm looking forward to getting back in there."
Forbes will be fighting in a seven-round bout at Jr. middleweight against an opponent to be announced shortly.
Also scheduled to see action on the card will be unbeaten young prospect Victor"El Tornado" Morales, Jr. (9-0, 5 KOs) of nearby Vancouver, Washington; fan-favorite Blaiwas Eaglepipe (1-1), of Salem, Oregon; and several other Portland area fighters.
"I’m really excited about this card," said promoter Christina Lunzman. "Steve’s been sharp in the gym and doing some things that we've never seen from him. I'm excited for it to be here at home. The card has a lot of exciting young fighters, which is what the town needs, an event showcasing the talent we have in this area…It’s going to be a great event."
The Clackamas Armory in Clackamas, Oregon is located twenty miles south of Portland. Tickets to 2Pound Sorts & Entertainment's 'Fight Night 3: Redemption' are available now at www.tickettomato.com. For more information visit www.2poundsports.com or the 2Pound Sports & Entertainment Facebook page.
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Opponent set for Steve “2 Pound” Forbes’ comeback fight April 6th
By Ricardo Ibarra
An opponent has been set for former IBF Jr. lightweight world champion Steve “2 Pound” Forbes’ return to the ring on April 6th. Forbes (35-14, 11 KOs), who will be fighting for the first time in over four years, will battle Tavorus Teague (6-24-4, 3 KOs) at the Clackamas Armory in Clackamas, Oregon, squaring off with the journeyman fighter over seven rounds in the Jr. middleweight division.
Teague, of Paramount, California, is a veteran of thirty-four professional fights. He turned pro in 2014 and has maintained a busy schedule since, fighting a total of eight times last year alone. Four of his last six fights have been against undefeated fighters, with his last fight being a four round unanimous decision loss to unbeaten Vardges Vardanyan this past February.
Forbes and Teague will clash in the main event of 2Pound Sports & Entertainment’s ‘Fight Night 3: Redemption’ card. Tickets to the event are available now at www.tickettomato.com. For more information visit www.2poundsports.com or the 2Pound Sports & Entertainment Facebook page. 
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